Review: A Call to Unity - Living Grace Fellowship

Wednesday 01/08/14

Series – The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Topic: Review: A Call to Unity

Part I What about Woman Elders & Teaching in the Church?.mp3

Key Texts:

1 Cor. 11:3-10

Ephesians 5:22-24, 33

1 Cor. 14:26-40

1 Tim. 2:8-14

Acts 13:14-16 &40-52

Luke 4:15-30

1 Peter 3:1-6

Tonight we finished our review of the role of woman in the church.

In this last lesson we covered…

Who is the head in male/female relationships
What does it mean for man to be the head
What “authority” is a woman’s covering a symbol of?
What law was Paul referring to in 1 Cor. 14:34?
Is this command JUST to the Corinthian church?
Is this a command of Paul or of God?
How does this compare with what Paul said to Timothy (1Tim. 2:8-14)?
What does submission look like as mentioned in 1Tim. 2:8-14?
What does a woman professing Godliness act like?
What are some scriptural example of Godly/Holy women?
What behavior in women does God see as Extremely Valuable and Precious?

In 1Cor. 11:3-10 Paul makes a case for the responsibility of authority of men concerning women using God’s original intent from creation as his basis. In this Paul, by the Holy Spirit, draws out several points which impact how men and women should conduct themselves in worship.

God created man first – from this Paul shows God’s intent on who carries the authority in the relationship between the two genders.
God created woman FOR man NOT man FOR woman – from this Paul shows that woman have been delegated a support role for men – not a leadership role.
- The fact that Paul shows that this impacts not only home life but worship, demonstrates clearly that this responsibility of headship is NOT limited to the marriage relationship, but is all pervasive in God’s intent for creation, which includes the local assemblies, otherwise his example is not inspired but in error, thus calling all of scripture into question.
The “Symbol of authority” on the woman’s head is an outward expression of a spiritual reality that she lives a life of voluntary submission under her husband (by extension father or brother’s) covering of responsible authority concerning her.
This symbol is not a point of contention with Paul, for even though some symbol is necessary in order to not dishonor her husband, what is used as a symbol was negotiable. In America, and many countries, one major symbol of being under the authority of one’s husband is a wedding band. However, many women’s conduct preaches a different gospel than Christ is here requiring for they treat their husbands with little to no reverence at all.
The conditions for submission are creation – nothing more. Submission and respect are NOT earned they are delegated. Women submit in order to honor God BY honoring the men in their lives. The same is true regarding the responsibilities of the man. He MUST love, cherish, prefer and honor her regardless of her actions for this is the requirement of honoring God. Loving and honoring the women in a man’s life is NOT earned – it is commanded.
- It is only when we as individuals (whether male or female) make life about ourselves that we chaff under our responsibilities given us by God. We miss out on so much richness in life because we make our chief aim our personal pleasure, comfort and desires, when we’ve been called to spend ourselves NOT on this lower life, but on His higher life.

Mar 8:35-36
(35) “For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God].”
(36) “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [in the eternal kingdom of God]?”

Another point I thought it wise to write out in this post is the point Paul was making to Timothy in 1 Tim. 2:9,10.

1Tim. 2:9-10
“likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness–with good works.”

Notice BEFORE mentioning not teaching in church Paul tell Timothy what IS proper for women CLAIMING godliness WITH GOOD WORKS. So what he mentions is in fact an example of a “good work” which we know Christ prepared before hand that they should walk in.

So what is it that Paul points to?

Not so much what a woman wears, but what she focuses on and presents before others as her outward communication of an inwardly professed Godliness.

Dressing nice is no sin. Dressing nice in order to garner attention is! The woman was made for the man, yet, most women do not dress for their husbands, but rather for the approval of other women and for the attention and admiration of other men. This is ungodly and is mentioned to women specifically because it is more of a tendency of women than men. God gave women the ability to attract men, but once she has attracted a husband, her attentions should shift to honoring him in the way she presents herself. I know this is a very unpopular doctrine, but it is true.

Paul makes it clear that a woman should dress modestly and with sobriety. Sadly, most people have to reach for a dictionary just to define the terms, much less present themselves this way.

The word modestly is the Greek word kósmios. It comes from the word kósmos, (Cosmos) meaning order, arrangement.

Plato presents someone who is kósmios as the citizen who quietly fulfills the duties which are incumbent on him and is not disorderly. He associates such a person, even as Paul does, with the sōphrōn (G4998), a sensible, self-controlled person. One who voluntarily places limitations on his own freedom. The virtue of the kósmios, however, is not only the propriety of his dress and demeanor, but of his inner life, uttering and expressing itself outwardly.

The word sobriety is the Greek word sōphrosúnē and means sober-mindedness, moderation of desires, passions, or conduct.

Finally is the word which most women since the advent of feminism not only ignore, they willfully loathe it and condemn such behavior as archaic and patriarchal. This word is shamefaced. It is the English representation of the Greek word aidōs meaning, modesty, an innate moral repugnance to a dishonorable act or fashion. Aidōs is an inner awareness of grief which results from a personal sense of evil if one were to indulge in enticing displays of outward attraction. Aidōs finds its motive in itself. It implies reverence for the good as good, not merely as that to which honor and reputation are attached. This word only appears in 1Tim. 2:9 and in Heb. 12:28. A Greek synonym for aidōs is entropē (G1791), which means to withdrawal into oneself.

The Holy Spirit through Paul is instructing young Timothy about the behaviors God approves of in his men and women. Far from the liberal behaviors we witness today in many women who not only “put themselves out there” but also teach other young women the same, Paul clearly illustrates that one of those behavioral traits God requires in women is to withdrawl into themselves. This should be no surprise since we are living in an age of “freedom” from all cultural and gender distinctions. Our developing “global-culture” is one where not freely expressing yourself is condemned as stifling, oppressive and intolerant. However, the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God and God’s foolishness is wiser than man. – 1 Cor. 1:19-31.

Finally, Paul uses the phrase “women professing godliness” which is very much akin to the phrase Peter used in 1 Peter 3:1-6 while talking about wives submitting to their husbands in everything. Peter uses the phrase, “holy women of old”. These phrases more than likely conjured images in the minds of these Gentile readers of three women in the scriptures.

I’ve heard that Jewish Tradition has held 3 women as examples of “godly women of old”.

They were…

Sarah – Abraham’s wife
Esther – submissive to Mordacci
Ruth – with Boaz

Reading about the lives of these three women paint an indelible image, clearly illustrating the points of these two Apostles. In the end, God say that the modest and quiet spirit of a woman is of very great price.

The words “Great price” mean, very precious and extremely valuable!

If I were a woman desiring to be honor God and live in a way that He deemed very precious and extremely valuable – I’d spend a great deal of time looking at the lives of these three woman – their modesty, quiet spirit, reserved behavior, humility, obedience & submissiveness to male authority.

May God richly bless you!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!